SHWETA KAMAT
shweta@heald-goa.com
PANJIM: The lack of sewerage system that led to non-treated sewage being discharged into the sea and river has caused serious health hazard and environmental problems in coastal Candolim, reveals the study undertaken by the State Government that has proposed Rs 209 crore dedicated sewerage system for the coastal area.
“About 100 percent of the building specially the hotels and restaurants are provided with septic tanks but due to the topography of the area and poor absorption of the effluents in the soil strata, the effluent leakage creates health hazard and environmental problem,” the extracts of the study reads.
Candolim, one of the most famous beach tourist destinations in the State, has unfortunately no system for the disposal of common sewage and waste water discharge. The town on an average generates 15 MLD of sewage from domestic, commercial establishments.
The Sewerage and Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Limited (SIDCGL) under the National Urban Sanitation Policy had roped in a private consultant- M/s Resource Plus to prepare a detail project report (DPR) for providing ‘sewerage scheme for Candolim and its sub urban area in Calangute constituency’. The consultant has submitted its draft DPR to the Government, copy of which is with Herald.
The State Government proposed to cover all the major towns with sewerage network using appropriate technology, to take the goal of total sanitation and clean environment in urban areas. State in its effort to develop infrastructure facilities, to boost development and improve the sanitation condition as well as preserving its water bodies has considered treating its sewerage before it is discharged into the Nerul River.
Candolim and adjacent Calangute are major tourist beaches of North Goa saturated with hotels, guesthouses and restaurants. During the peak tourism season (i.e. the dry season) the population in Candolim area doubles and therefore the volume of sewage generated increases.
The consultant pointed out that Candolim lacks well-knit sewerage network and majority of population is still dependent on traditional septic tank and soak pit system for the disposal of wastewater. Along the high tourist pressure belt, indiscriminate letting off of the wastewater into open drains, adverse soil conditions and shallow water table aggravates the problem of safe sewage disposal. During the rainy season many septic tanks overflow due to rise in the groundwater table.
“Health hazard such as contamination of ground water or drinking water is due to the lack of adequate soaking capacity of the soil, letting of the waste water in open drains due to growing urbanisation,” the DPR stated.
As such with focus till 2022, the consultant has worked out 41.40 kms sewerage system for the Candolim-Calangute area at an estimated cost of Rs 209.11 crore. While over the years till 2022, government will be spending around Rs 280 crore annually as operation and maintenance cost, it will generate revenue of around Rs 318 crore in form of sewerage tax, water tax, etc. The project would come into operation in 2019.
